Charles a



(No Model.)

O. A. MANN.

BUGKLE.

No. 408,035. Patented July so, 1889.

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UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

CHARLES A. MANN, OF BUFFALO, NEYV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO VILLIAM B. MANN, OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

SPEOIFIdATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,035, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed November 15, 1888. Serial No. 290,931. (No model.

To all whom it Huey concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MANN, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more especially to the buckles which are used on mens garments for fastening together the back straps of vests and pantaloons, and which consist, essentially, of a buckleframe and a tongue or spur plate pivoted to the buckle-frame.

The object of my invention is to simplify the construction of the buckle-frame, and also to provide the buckle with a simple and effective locking device, whereby the tongueplate is locked in position against outward movement, so as to prevent the tongues thereof from becoming accidentally disengaged from the adjacent strap.

My invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved buckle. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly in section, on an enlarged scale. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are cross-sections in lines ma, y 3 and .2', Fig. 2, respectively. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the buckle, on a still further enlarged scale, in line 10 10, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the bu ckleframe is constructed.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The buckle-frame is composed of raised side bars a a and depressed cross or end bars a a and is constructed from a blank of the form shown in Fig. 7, being a fiat open rectangular frame. This blank is preferably stamped of sheet-brass or other sheet metal, but may be cast of malleable iron, if desired. After the blank has been formed opposite end portions thereof are bent up at right angles to the end bars a a to form the raised side bars a a, as shown. This construction forms a neat buckle-frame, which can be cheaply produced.

a B represents the tongue-plate, pivoted between the side bars a a and provided with tongues or spurs b, which bear with their outer ends against the end bar (1, when the tongue-plate is swung inwardly, the end bar a being preferably formed with depressions (L in which the outer ends of the tongues rest, so as to bring the points of the tongues below the face of the buckle-frame and protect the fingers of the wearer. The tongue plate is pivoted to the buckle-frame by means of lateral pins or studs formed at the ends of the tongue-plate and fitting in openings 0, formed in the raised side bars a at. These openings are punched in the side bars before the latter are bent up.

(Z represents locking teats or projections arranged on the inner side of the side bars a a in the path of the tongue-plate B, so that the adjacent lateral edges of the tongue-plate must ride over said teats in swinging the tongue-plate inwardly. Upon pressing the tongue-plate inwardly against the teats d the side bars a spring slightly and allow the tongue-plate to pass by the teats, and after it has passed the teats the side bars spring back to their former position, thereby confining the plate underneath the teats. The side bars a a are sufficiently elastic to permit the tongue-plate to be sprung over the locking-teats by a slight pressure in moving the same inwardly and by a slight pull in moving the same outwardly. The tongue-plate is in this manner locked in place with sufficient security to prevent accidental outward movement of the plate and disengagement of its tongues from the adjacent strap of the garment.

The teats d are preferably formed by punching indentations in the outer sides of the side bars a, so as to strike up a portion of the metal, as shown. These teats are also formed before the side bars are bent up at right angles to the end bars. This construction forms a very simple and reliable locking device, which does not materially increase the cost of the buckle.

It is obvious that only a single locking pro jection (Z formed on one side of the side bars may be employed; but I prefer to form one on each side bar to equalize the strain on the pivots of the tongue-plate.

one of the cross-bars of the buckle-frame when the buckle is closed, of locking teats or projections 61, formed upon the inner sides of the side bars 01 the buckle-frame and engaging over the lateral edges of the buckleframe when the buckle is closed, whereby the tongue-frame is locked With its prongs or tongues in contact with one of the cr0ss-bars of the buckle-frame, substantially as set forth.

itness my hand this 8th day of October, 1888.

CHARLES A.' MANN.

lVitn esses:

J NO. J. BONNER, C. D. HOWE. 

